Avoiding certain foods while you are on dialysis improves the effectiveness of your treatment and helps you feel better. When your kidneys were healthy, they constantly filtered waste products out of your blood for removal from your body. When your kidneys stop working, dialysis removes waste from your blood. You can reduce the amount of waste buildup between dialysis sessions by carefully choosing what you eat and drink. Your dietitian can help you plan meals that support your needs.
Identification
A dialysis machine does the work of your kidneys. Dialysis cleanses your blood of accumulated waste products and excess fluids when your kidneys can no longer filter your blood effectively. Dialysis helps people with kidney failure live productive lives while waiting for a kidney transplant and helps prolong life if a transplant is not an option. While on dialysis, you will need to limit the amount of fluids and certain foods in your diet.
Fluids
Fluid builds up in between your dialysis sessions and can affect your blood pressure and make your heart work harder. It also causes swelling and weight gain. Foods that are liquid at room temperature contain water and add to your fluid intake. Fruits and vegetables, including melons, grapes, lettuce, tomatoes, apples and oranges contain water.
Potassium
Potassium affects the steady rhythm of your heartbeat. Potassium levels can rise between dialysis sessions and adversely affect your heartbeat or even be fatal, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. To help control potassium levels in your blood, avoid foods such as banana, kiwi and avocado that are high in potassium. Eat smaller portions of other high potassium foods such as melon, oranges and pears.
Phosphorus
Too much phosphorus in your blood causes calcium to be leached from your bones and makes them more likely to break. High levels of phosphorus may cause your skin to itch. Phosphorus is found in almost all foods, but high phosphorus foods include milk, cheese, dried beans, colas, nuts and whole grains. Dialysis removes only a small amount of phosphorus from your blood, so your doctor may prescribe a phosphate binder to help remove phosphorus and prevent it from accumulating in your blood.
Protein
Your body breaks protein down and creates urea, a waste product. Dialysis helps avoid a build up of urea in your blood. High-quality proteins from meat, fish, poultry and eggs produce less waste than other proteins. Eating high-quality proteins helps maintain your muscles and repair your tissues and will enhance your immune system.
Sodium
Excessive sodium increases thirst and causes you to drink more fluid, which in turn may increase your blood pressure and make your heart work harder. Canned foods and frozen foods often have high levels of sodium. Choose low sodium food products and avoid salt substitutes that contain potassium.
References
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Urinary Tract Infections in Children
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Eat Right to Feel Right on Hemodialysis
- Davita.com: Potassium, Phosphorus and the Dialysis Diet
- National Kidney Foundation: Nutrition and Hemodialysis
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